WARD SYSTEM

WARD SYSTEM. System of local government. Dubuque residents voted to adopt the ward system of government on June 3, 1980. Proponents of changing the city form of government were led by John P. KLAUER and the Committee for Civic Responsibility.

The election result came as a shock to the city council that, elected at-large, had chosen their MAYOR annually. The change meant that city voters would elect their own mayor to a four-year term. The City of Dubuque would be divided into four wards with one member elected to the council from each. Two council members would be elected at-large. For Dubuque, the election meant a return to a form of government it had known unti11920. The change in that year to the manager plan had been in response to those who felt such a plan would save money and make government operate efficiently like a business.

Municipal government came to Dubuque in 1837. In late 1836 the Wisconsin territorial legislature, which governed Dubuque, decided to allow MINING settlements with over three hundred inhabitants to incorporate as cities. This allowed such communities to legally regulate commerce and administer justice. In the spring of 1837 white males over twenty-one years of age living in Dubuque voted to incorporate and establish a board of trustees to govern. The board was comprised of five men elected at-large with one appointed by the trustees to serve as president.

This form of government lasted until 1840when Dubuque received its first charter from the territorial legislature of Iowa. The city government became a mayor and six alderman, two elected from each of Dubuque's three wards. The mayor, the administrative leader, voted only to break ties.

Dubuque's form of government was provided by a special city charter granted by the State of Iowa in 1857. Dubuque became one of only forty cities to possess such a charter since no other special charters were issued. The number of alderman increased to ten and occasionally eleven. The number of wards rose to five.

Dubuque autonomy was restricted in 1897 when the Legislature stated that Dubuque could not continue its strict ward system. The state mandated no more than five alderman, two at-large council members, and an at-large elected mayor.

The legislative system mandated in 1897 lasted until April 1920, with the adoption of the manager form. An attempt to repeal the manager form failed in 1934.

To facilitate the introduction of the ward system in 1980, special arrangements were made for the first council. For the first term, the winners of the 1st and 3rd wards, mayor and the highest vote getter of the two at-large council positions were elected for four years. Two-year terms were awarded to the representatives of the 2nd and 3rd wards and the second-highest vote getter from the at-large contest. After the first election, all winning candidates would be elected to serve four years.

As established in 1981, the First Ward was the city's biggest and most affluent area. With a panhandle region on the north bordered by Carter, Kaufmann, and Chaney, the region stretched eastward along Asbury and West Locust before heading south along Grandview, east on Dodge, south on Highway 61/151 and then east to the river along Railroad Avenue. The ward ran south of Railroad Avenue along the river to a point well below South Grandview.

The boundary started west, southwest and west again before climbing staircase-like in a northwest direction to junction Highway 20. The ward's western border ran eastward along Dodge before running north along Born Street to Pennsylvania and then Deborah Street to Carter to enclose the region.

According to 1970 census statistics, the First Ward had Dubuque's highest number of white-collar workers and the lowest percentage of laborers and factory workers. The residents were generally well educated with 68.5 percent high school graduates. The average number of years of school completed equaled 12.5. Less than 7 percent of Dubuque's industrial property was located in the First Ward, but residential property was valued higher than in any other ward. Less than 15 percent of the residents rented their homes. The average income, according to 1970 statistics, was the second highest in Dubuque, behind that of the 2nd Ward. The conservatism of the ward was shown by its being the only ward that voted against the change in city government.

The city's Second Ward, lying on Dubuque's west side, was planned with its northern border running more or less parallel to the north of West 32nd with its eastern edge bordered by Davenport Street. The southern border was a twisting route running west along Kaufmann, south on Grandview and then west along West Locust and Fairway. The panhandle of the First Ward jutted up into the southern border of the Second Ward along Chaney, Kaufmann, Deborah and Born STREETS. The Southern border of the Second Ward then ran westward along Dodge to beyond STEPHEN HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL before twisting north to West 32nd.

In 1981 most of the land in the Second Ward was assessed as residential. Households averaged 3.48 people. Most of the workers had blue-collar jobs, although there was also a sizable population of professionals. In 1981 the Second Ward had the least amount of industrial land, although this fact began to change with the dramatic development of the Dubuque Industrial Center along the Northwest Arterial and south of Middle Road (Pennsylvania), the expansion of KENNEDY MALL, and the development of Wacker Plaza. The Second Ward in 1981 had the second greatest concentration of commercial land in Dubuque, next to the downtown area. The ward's value was equal to 33 percent of the city's total commercial valuation.

Twenty percent of the residents of the Second Ward were newcomers. The least stable ward in Dubuque, this area joined the First Ward in having residents with above average amounts of education. In 1970 seventy-five percent had high school diplomas.

Dubuque's Third Ward lies on the city's north end. With its eastern edge along the MISSISSIPPI RIVER, the ward is bordered on the west by Peru Road and an area west of Peru Road westward to Highway 52. The ward reaches west from the highway in the area north of West 32nd and then runs south-southeast along Davenport and Fulton Streets to 16th Street. The southern border strikes northeast parallel to Rhomberg Avenue and then south along Kerper Boulevard to the area of CITY ISLAND.

When the boundaries were drawn, the Third Ward resident was generally a proud life-long Dubuque resident. Census results have indicated the number of native Dubuque residents in this area as high as 90 percent. The Third Ward has also been high in the number of registered Democrats. A majority of the workers, 90 percent, are considered blue-collar. While there have been many renters in the ward, as many as 66 percent of the residents own their homes.

The Third Ward has contained 39 percent of Dubuque's industrial property valuation, placing it second to the Fourth Ward. While facing such problems as deteriorating housing and heavy traffic, the North Dubuque Improvement Association has achieved many goals, including street improvements and the development of the Comiskey Recreation Center.

The ward with perhaps the most contrast ran from Kerper Boulevard, Central Avenue, West 22nd and Kaufmann Avenue on toward the north to Dodge and Railroad Avenue on the south. The western border of the Fourth Ward is a twisting line using Grandview Avenue in many places. The Fourth Ward includes the residents of the FLATS and the people on the bluff.

Both the Third and Fourth wards have had active NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS. The Flats has been represented by the Washington Neighborhood Organization. Farther west the Fourth Street Neighborhood Association has been politically active in promoting the area around the shops on Fourth Street and the city's TOURISM industry. Hill residents have been active politically through the West 11th Street Neighborhood Association. Flats residents, however, have cooperated more often with the residents of the Third Ward while the people living on "the Hill" have usually found themselves taking the side of their friends living in the central city. Hill residents generally have more education and higher salaries. Residents of the area have shared the concern about the placement of the elevated roadway through Dubuque and the traffic problems associated with any long-term closing of the JULIEN DUBUQUE BRIDGE.

The Fourth Ward with 60 percent of Dubuque's industrial value has contained 40 percent of the commercial property valuation. In August 1991 the City Council adopted new ward boundaries. While the number of wards remained the same, the boundaries were slightly shifted to create areas approximately equal in population.